THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF CEFTIZOXIME ON INFECTIONS IN AGED PATIENTS

Abstract

Ceftizoxime (CZX) were administered and tested for the efficacy and safety in 80 eldery patients who were older than 65 years of age with infections. The sensitivity of bacteria found in these infections to CZX was examined before the administration of the drug. Serum concentrations and the rate of urinary output of the drug were examined in 3 cases.
1. The clinical effect of CZX was as follows: 29 cases (36.3%) of excellent effectiveness and 31 cases (38.8%) showed moderate effectiveness. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the presence or the absence of other diseases in their backgrounds. Effectivenesses of CZX for patients with and without other diseases were 74.0% and 85.7%, respectively. The effectiveness of CZX in patients with other diseases in their background was lower than the group without other diseases.
2. Other antibiotics were used in 16 cases before the use of CZX. The effectiveness of CZX for these patients was 62.5%.
3. Infecting bacteria were detected in a total of 46 cases (19 cases of respiratory infections and 27 cases of urinary tract infections). Among the respiratory cases, 8 were due to Gram-positive bacteria and 11 were due to Gram-negative bacteria. No Gram-positive organisms were detected from urinary tract infections, which were all due to Gram-negative bacteria. Sensitivities of isolates of these infecting bacteria to CZX were very sensitive (+++) 37 isolates, sensitive (++) 8 and slightly sensitive (+) 1 isolate.
It was found that CZX was effective against 39 of 46 cases from which causative organisms were identified. The effectiveness ratio was 84.8%.
4. Serum concentration of CZX was determined after a drip injection of 1g CZX for 1 hour. The half-lives of CZX in plasma in healthy subjects and aged patients were 1.33 hours and 2.15 hours, respectively. The rate of urinary output of CZX during 6 hours after the injection was 76.4% in healthy subjects. Delayed urinary output which was 58.2% during 7 hours after injection was observed in aged patients.
5. Fever in 1 patient and eosinophilia in 3 cases were observed after administration of CZX.